Keg cooler and dispensing bar unit



y 1957 R. A. BRYAN 2,792,692

KEG COOLER AND DISPENSING BAR UNIT Filed Sept. 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR E550 A. Bryn/v ATTORNEY May 21, 1957 R. A. BRYAN 2,792,692

KEG COOLER AND DISPENSING BAR UNIT Filed Sept. 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 2550 A. BRYAN BY kw 'D W j- ATTORNEY United States Patent 9 2,792, 92 kuecoonnn A ND DISPENSING BAR UNIT Reed A. Bryan, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Application September 21, 1955, Serial No. 535,584

3 Claims. (Cl. 62-144) This invention relates to liquid, cooling and dispensing devices and, more particularly, to a combined beer cooler and dispensing bar.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a combined keg cooling enclosure simulating a large beer barrel, dispensing bar and faucet, and auxiliary pressurizing equipment in a single unit for use at picnics, beach and boat parties, club outings and the like events.

More specifically, it is intended now to provide a keg enclosure in the form of a relatively large open-top barre]. A bar-top removably fitted over the top of the barrel so that a keg may be set down within the barrel and packed with ice, and tapping and dispensing equipment including a faucet mounted on the bar-top and a carbondioxide cylinder mounted exteriorly of the barrel with gas connections to the top. By this arrangement there is to be provided a complete unit which may be set up iced by a distributor or dealer and delivered to the consumers in readiness for tapping and utilization without further ado.

A further object is the provision of a hold-down device for the keg. After a keg has been installed and iced within a cooling enclosure, such as the barrel bar of this invention, the cracked ice which is packed between the keg and barrel melts, this being oftentimes coincident with the depletion of the keg contents. The keg then floats up on the ice Water within the bottom of the barrel, thereby not only causing the keg and tapping equipment to flop around the interior of the barrel when the unit is handled, but also decreasing the amount of keg surface contacting the ice water which is still capable of absorbing much heat. By means of the hold-down device utilized in a modified form of the invention, the keg is firmly held in the bottom of the cooling enclosure and, in addition, the hold-down provides a removable support within the cooling enclosure for a pressurizing cylinder.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following specification and drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the unit;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away, illustrating the combined keg cooler and dispensing unit;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 illustrating a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section along the line 44 of Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 illustrating a detail of the hold-down mounting.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals denote similar elements, the combined keg cooler and dispensing bar unit indicated generally at 2 comprises a relatively large barrel 4 normally closed at its upper end by a dispensing bar 6 in the form of a generally rectangular plate 7. Plate 7, which may be suitably decorated and trimmed, is pivotally supported over the otherwise open top of barrel 4 by a hinge 8 so that it may be swung open to provide access to the interior of the barrel. i i

A faucet 10 affixed centrally on plate 7 and forming a part of dispensing bar 6 is connected by a flexible hose 12 to a tapping rod 14 slidably engaging through a conventional tap 16 on a keg 18 enclosed within barrel 4, keg 18 being substantially smaller than the interior of the barrel so that crushed ice 20 may be packed around the keg to cool it and to hold the keg against undue jostling during delivery of the unit to the customer.

A pressurizing hose 22 leading from tap 16 passes outwardly through bunghole 23 to a carbon-dioxide tank 24, the latter being removably supported by brackets 26, 28 on the exterior of barrel 4 and provided with the usual pressure indicators and regulators indicated generally at 30. A stop cock 32 on tapping rod 14 :and couplings 34 and 36 connecting flexible hose 12 to rod 14 and faucet 10 complete the interior assembly.

When the unit is readied for use, plate 7 is pivoted open, keg 18 is set in place, carbon-dioxide tank 24 is mounted on brackets 26, 28, pressurizing hose 22 is connected to tap 16, and approximately the lower three-fifths of the interior of barrel 4 is packed with crushed ice. Preferably, tapping rod 14 is inserted and secured in place at the location where the unit is packed so that, when delivered, the unit is made ready to serve by opening the pressure regulator valve.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3-5, the elements denoted by non-prime reference numerals are substantially the same as those with similar designations described in the first embodiment, and the elements bearing prime reference numerals correspond in function and general form to those previously denoted with similar non-prime numerals.

Dispensing bar 6 is removably fitted on the top of barrel enclosure 2 by a depending annular flange 9 aflixed on the underside of plate 7 and engaging within the top of barrel 4'. In Fig. 4 it will be apparent that the ice, which was originally packed between barrel 4' and keg 18 has melted and become ice water 20. In order to hold keg 18 in the bottom of barrel 4' there is provided a combined hold-down and pressurizing cylinder support denoted generally at 39 and including a cross bar 40 which extends diametrically across the interior of barrel 4' and engages against the top 17 keg 118. Cross bar 40 is cut away at its mid-portion as denoted at 42 to avoid interference with the tapping rod 14, tap 16, and related tapping, coupling and valve elements, and the ends of the cross bar 49 are engaged beneath cleats 44 oppositely afiixed on the inner sides of barrel 4'. When the combined hold down and pressurizing cylinder support is installed, it is first arranged counter-clockwise of its position in Fig. 3, and then rotated clockwise to the position shown, inclined cam surfaces 46 being provided on opposite top portions of the cross bar to ensure tightness in the final fit. A saddle recess 50 in the upper side of cross bar 40 supports a pressurizing cylinder 24' whose gas pressure indicator and regulating unit 30' is connected by flexible hose 22 to tap 16 in conventional manner.

The invention is not limited to the details shown and described hereinbefore, but is intended to cover all substitutions, modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

l. A combined keg cooling and dispensing device, com- 3 transversely across the inte'rior' of the enclosure, said device including-keg tappingand conduit means adapted to extend upwardly from the keg, said cross bar having a References Cited in the file of this patent central recess therein for accommodating said keg tapping 196,297 andconduit means. 5 550, 2

2. The combination clairned in claim 1, the support 29011040 means comprisingcleats afiixed' on" opposite inner sides 2,003,050 of the enclosure and adapted to engage the ends of said 0,598 cross bar. 7 2,116,622

3. The combination claimed in claim 2, said cro s b r 10 ,116

having means on the upper side thereof for supporting a pressurizing cylinder'fo'r said keg tapping means.

UNITED STATES PATENT S- Hovey Oct. 23, Wagner Nov. 19, Sweeney May 14, Iselin May 28, Bodenstab May 18, Eisenmenger May 10, Copeman Dec. 5, 

